Coalition of Leaders across 16-County Northeast Ohio Region Engages CGR for Capacity-Building Study

CLEVELAND - Aug. 27, 2013 - PRLog -- A coalition of Northeast Ohio leaders has engaged CGR (http://www.cgr.org) to help build the coalition's capacity to enhance efficiency in local governments in the region. EfficientGovNetwork (EGNet) is a three-year-old initiative involving Northeast Ohio leaders from government, business, nonprofits, and the public.

Northeast Ohio encompasses the cities of Cleveland, Akron, Youngstown, Canton and Mansfield. The region has 16 counties, 248 towns, 237 municipalities, 222 school districts, and 145 special districts.

EGNet evolved from a project known as EfficientGovNow, which has provided government efficiency grants and is sponsored by the Fund for Our Economic Future. The Fund is a leading collaborative of philanthropic organizations and individuals that has been working since 2004 to confront financial and economic competitiveness issues in Northeast Ohio.

“CGR is excited to again work with leaders in Northeast Ohio,” said Joseph Stefko, Ph.D., CGR President and CEO. “Early in the Fund’s history, CGR was engaged to document the levels, trends and duplication of local government expenditures in Northeast Ohio, and to benchmark local governments against peer regions in the U.S. Our work put key data at stakeholders’ fingertips for the first time, providing a foundation for future Fund projects, including EfficientGovNow. Today the issue of local government efficiency in the region is at the forefront of the public agenda, a testament to the efforts of EGNet, its funders and partners. We are eager to work with them to deliver a sustainable, innovative framework for these critical efforts.”

With support from the Fund, the volunteer EGNet formed to share ideas and best practices for local government collaboration; set objectives in the region; assess common needs and priorities; and work toward a more collaborative and efficient local government structure in Northeast Ohio.

EGNet now seeks to formalize its structure and role in ways that enhance its own sustainability and capacity to accelerate local government efficiency and effectiveness. It has engaged CGR to conduct a feasibility study to:

• Determine the role(s) EGNet should play;

• Identify alternative organizational approaches that would position EGNet to serve the role(s) most effectively; and

• Advise EGNet on implementing recommended organizational approaches and frameworks.

CGR and its Cleveland-based partner, The Uhl Group, will complete the project in spring 2014.

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About CGR:The Center for Governmental Research is a leading provider of strategic management consulting to municipal, educational, nonprofit and business clients. The 98-year old nonprofit organization specializes in the areas of government management, economics & public finance, education, and health & human services.